Weighing mechanism for refrigerators.



No. 655,066. I Patanted J uly 3|, I900.

' 8'. W. 00008 &. G. H. ROBERTSON.

WEIGHING MECHANISM FOR REFRIGERATORS.

(Application filed Juno 6, 1900.) (No Model.)

cig

llIllllllllllllllIlllllllllllllllllllllllll "ma "0mm PETERS co. FHOTOLITHDH WASHINGTON. n. c.

- water.

Gasman Spares arena tries.

SAMUEL w. DoDDs AND GEORGE 1-1. RonEnTsoN', or PADUoAH, KENTUCKY.

WElGHlNG MECHANBSM FUR REFRIGERATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,066, dated July 31,1900. Application filed June 6, 1900. Serial No. 19,264. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Beitknown that we,SAMUEL W. DODDs and GEORGEH. RoBERrsoN,citizens of the United States, residing at Paducah, in thecounty ofv McOracken and State of Kentucky, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in *Weighing Mechanism for Refrigerators; and wedo declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in refrigerators, and has for oneobject the production of a simple, durable, and efficient weighingattachment for refrigerators and ice-boxes by which the quantity of iceplaced therein is automatically weighed and the weight of the iceindicated on the exterior to the view of the purchaser.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment of thischaracter which may be applied to existing refrigerators and ice-boxesof ordinary construction and in which the weighing mechanism is inclosedand protected from injury by the ice and WVith'these and other minorobjects in view the lnvention consists in certain novel features ofconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will behereinafter.

attached thereto.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, in which likereference-numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the severalviews, the numeral 1 represents a refrigerator or ice-box of anypreferred size and construction, having its interior divided by a fixedpartition 2 into upper and lower chambers 3 and l, the former designedto receive the ice and the latter the articles to be cooled.

Located in the ice-chamber 3 is a verticallymovable platform 5,to theunder side of which is attached a plate 6, carrying a cylindric plunger'7, from which depends a rack-bar 8. This rack-bar and plunger arefitted to slide within a cylinder 9, supported by the partition 2 andextending a short distance down into the chamber 1. The plunger isdesigned to move freely and yet snugly in the cylinder to prevententrance of ice and water therein and clogging and rusting of theweighing mechanism, while the rack-bar is of correspondingly sma-llerdiametrical area to provide for the reception of a coiledresistancespring 10, which normally holds the plunger, rack-bar, andmovable platform in their normal positions or at the limit of theirupward movement. This spring is of predetermined resistance and isadapted as different weights or pressures are placed upon the platformto allow said platform to move down a certain distance, which throughthe medium of indi catingmechanism yet to be described causes the weightor pressure upon the platform to be automatically determined andindicated on the exterior of the refrigerator. The plunger and cylinderare centrally disposed and are of such area as to effectually withstandthe strain falling thereon and to prevent undue tilting or canting ofthe movable weightplatform.

The weight or pressure indicating mechanism consists of a dial 11,arranged upon the exterior of one side wall of the refrigerator andprovided with a scale to indicate pounds and fractions of a pound up toany desired weight. With this scale cooperates a pointer or index-hand12, mounted upon the outer end of a shaft 13, extending through the saidside wall of the refrigerator. The inner end of this shaft is journaledin the wall of the cylinder 9 and projects thereinto and carries apinion 14, which meshes with the rackbar 8.

'The operation of the device is as follows: The door 15, closing the topof, the refrigerator, is opened and the ice rested upon the movableplatform 5. The platform then moves downwardly to a greater or lessextent, accordingly as the ice is heavy or light, and the rack-bar 8,meshing with the pinion 14-, is thereby caused to operate the index-hand12 through the medium of said pinion and the shaft 13, whereby theweight of the ice is indicated on the dial. As the ice melts and diminishes in weight the spring forces the platform upwardly and retractsthe index-hand correspondingly, and thus the amount of ice contained inthe refrigerator may at any time be ascertained.

As before stated, the plunger is fitted to slide snugly in the cylinderto prevent the inlet of water and small pieces of ice into the cylinderand obviate all liability of injury to the operating mechanism, by whichmeans the life of the apparatus is materially enhanced.

By means of our invention, which provides a simple, cheap, and efficientconstruction of apparatus for the purpose, the weight of a purchasedpiece of ice may be ascertained in a ready and convenient manner by thepurchaser and the giving of short Weight detected. it also effects amaterial saving in ice, as the amount of ice contained in therefrigerator may be inspected without opening the door or cover andexposing the ice to the warm outside air.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. Arefrigerator having an ice-chamber, in combination with ice-weighingmechanism comprising a cylinder centrally located and opening thereinto,a movable platform in said ice-chamber, a plunger extending centrallyfrom the under side of said platform and slidably mounted in thecylinder, a resistancespring inclosed within the cylinder and acting onthe plunger, a dial and pointer on the exterior of the refrigerator, andmeans for communicating motion to said pointer upon the movement of theplunger, substantially as set forth.

2. A refrigerator having a partition dividing the interior thereof intoan ice-chamber and a chamber to receive the articles to be cooled, incombination with ice Weighing mechanism comprising a cylinder supportedby said partition, a movable platform in the ice-chamber, a plungerdepending centrally from said platform and slidably mounted in saidcylinder and carrying a rack-bar, a resistance-spring in the cylindersurrounding the rack-bar and acting on said plunger, a dial and pointeron the exterior of the refrigerator, and a shaft having its outer endjournaled in the wall of the refrigerator and carrying said pointer, andits inner end journaled in the wall of the cylinder and carry-- ing apinion meshing with said rack-bar, sub stantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL \V. DODDS. GEORGE II. ROBERTSON. \V-itnesses:

A'UBER SMITH, J. R. McOLEAN.

